About World Thinking Day

The World Thinking Day theme for 2009: girls worldwide say “stop the spread of AIDS, malaria and other diseases” is part of WAGGGS’ new Global Action Theme (GAT).

The GAT replaces ‘Our Rights, Our Responsibilities’ as the WAGGGS Global Action Theme from 2009 onwards. It encourages girls and young women to make a personal commitment to change the world around them by linking to an important global agenda: the United Nations Millennium Development Goals MDGs).

Ending poverty was the historic promise made by 189 world leaders at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. It has eight areas of focus, known as the Millennium Development Goals. Through these interlinked areas, the aim is to improve the lives of the poorest people in the world as well as raise awareness among everyone about the situation. Today, 30,000 children die every day from poverty and neglect, and two billion people live without adequate food and basic needs. More than three million people will die of HIV and AIDS this year - many of them live in poverty.

How World Thinking Day began…

Each year on 22 February, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world celebrate World Thinking Day.

World Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the 4^th Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference, held at Girl Scouts of the USA’s Camp Edith Macy (now called Edith Macy Conference Center). Conference attendees decided that there should be a special day when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all around the world think of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their "sister" Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. 

The delegates chose 22 February as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout Movement, and his wife Olave, who served as World Chief Guide.

In 1932, at the 7^th World Conference, held in Poland, it was suggested by a Belgian delegate that since birthdays usually involve presents, girls could show their appreciation and friendship on Thinking Day not only by extending warm wishes to each other but also by offering a voluntary contribution to the World Association. Olave wrote to all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts after this idea was adopted asking them to help support the Movement by donating just a penny. You can read Olave’s first letter.

This is how the World Association’s Thinking Day Fund began. The fund helps offer Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting to more girls and young women worldwide. Your help is needed just as much today as it was in 1932.